Albert, my 3-toed box turtle has an infection in his cloaca, He is on an oral antibiotic of 8mm for a week and then every other day for a week. I cannot get him to open up and his vet Dr. Chris said to give it to him in his cloaca. Is this okay? He isn't eating and has started brumation, i have used every trick to get him to eat and he just won't. He is sitting on a heating pad and i am using ub/a light and ceramic heater to keep him warm. 70 with humidity about 60+. I have soaked him every day and now i am adding baby food to his water since he will only drink. I've noticed he doesn't want to use his back legs and i am very concerned. He will sometimes, but they just look weak to me.

Myself never heard of antibiotic's given into cloaca . But then I'm an old timer now of days I would do some homework on that , ask more questions if antibiotic's really work that way .


To me the not eating is the important thing. I used Pedialyte in the water much more nutritious than even baby food just the plain no flavor type.

You stated UB/A and ceramic ? You mean UVB and a ceramic heater? All the setup is at 70* ? To me little on the cool side even for a 3-toed , I don't like captive turtles to brumate , one can not reproduce nature in captivity as well as nature can , seen thinks happen badly in my five decades with land and aquatic turtles. I always had a hot side at 75*-80* and a cool side at 70*. This lets them choose what the want or need at any time. With any illness a little more heat always helps / also helps on the digestion side too.

If I was not sure he would drink some from water bowl in a separate container I would mix the Pedialyte with warm water 50/50 about an inch deep an let him soak in it for an hour or so. Sometimes would drink it faster that way.

Was any blood work done? Is this a regular vet or a Herp Vet ?